Tony Hawk's American Wasteland

Overview

Tony Hawk's American Wasteland is not a continuation of the story found in the Underground tiles, but features a brand new one. Unlike previous Tony Hawks, the main feature boasted by THAW is that the entire game would take place in one giant streaming level, a interpretation of Los Angeles. The story has the player's created skater arriving in LA after the realization that his Mid-Western home is no place for a skater (THAW has players pick between five pre-made male characters to take through story mode). Once there, he meets a wide array of characters/pro skaters and eventually takes on the task of rebuilding the 'Wasteland' Skate Ranch. The story is told through in-game cinematics similar to the Underground games, and drawings by artist Jimbo Philips.

Story progression works just as it did in the Underground games. Players are asked to complete story related goals to help them unlock a new area or a piece for the skate ranch. During story mode, goals would include pulling a trick off a certain object found throughout the virtual LA. This would cause "World Destruction" scenes similar to Underground 2, and that piece would disappear from the level and be incorporated into the skate ranch.

The game's main selling feature was that it included one seamless LA level that contained no loading times. In it, players could skate various landmark areas such as Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and East LA. While originally this led players to believe the map would be similar to the ones found in the Grand Theft Auto series, the end result was a bit underwhelming. While players could skate a giant LA, the areas themselves were essentially the size of past Tony Hawk levels. The only difference was that they were each connected by "tunnel" like areas that hid the loading times. Tony Hawk would get its true seamless skating city in its 8th installment, Tony Hawk's Project 8.

The second biggest addition to the game was the inclusion of BMX bikes. Players could trade in their skateboards for a BMX to complete bike specific goals. The bikes however did not control like the ones found in the Mat Hoffman Pro BMX games. Instead they were controlled using the analogue sticks (Left one controlling the players, while the right one controlling the bike to do tailwhips) and the shoulder buttons (allowing riders to spin and do body flips). Pro BMX riders Rick Throne and Mat Hoffman appeared in the game relating to bike specific missions. Bikes would replace the non-skateboarding vehicles found in the previous Underground games.

The third noteworthy additional features was found in the revamped Off-the-Board controls. Players were once again able to jump off their board, but they were no longer limited to just walking. Free-Running was incorporated to allow players to run up walls and do wall flips as well. Other new tricks included wall plants and bert slides.

Levels

The main level in THAW takes place in a giant LA. The city is divided between different skate areas which are all connected by skateable tunnels/pathways.

Los Angeles Areas

Hollywood

Beverly Hills

Downtown

East LA

Santa Monica

Oil Rig (Originally appeared as an exclusive Xbox THPS3 level)

Vans Park

Casino (Originally appeared as an exclusive PSP THUG2 - Remix level)

Skate Ranch

Classic Mode which was introduced in Underground 2 also made a return, allowing skaters to play previous Tony Hawk levels using the two minute goal scheme found within THPS1 - 3.

Classic Mode Levels

Minneapolis (of THPS)

Santa Cruz (of THUG2 Remix - PSP Exclusive Level)

The Mall (of THPS)

Chicago (of THPS)

Kyoto (of THUG2 Remix - PSP Exclusive Level)

The Ruins (Post-Apocalyptic version of THPS3 Los Angeles)

Collector's Edition Bonus Levels

Atlanta (of THUG2 Remix - PSP Exclusive Level)

Marseilles (of THPS2)

Soundtrack

7 Seconds - We're Gonna Fight

Alkaline Trio - Wash Away *

An Endless Sporadic - Sun Of Pearl

Bad Religion - We're Only Gonna Die

Black Flag - Rise Above

The Bled - House Of Suffering *

Bloc Party - Like Eating Glass

Bobot Adrenaline - Penalty Box

The Bravery - Unconditional

Breakestra - Champ

The Casualties - Get Off My Back

Circle Jerks - Wild In The Streets

Dead Kennedys - California Uber Alles

Death From Above 1979 - Little Girl

Del Tha Funkee Homosapien - "Burnt"

D.R.I. - Couch Slouch

The Doors - Peace Frog

Dropkick Murphys - Who Is Who *

El-P - Junkie Skate Rock

Emanuel - Search And Destroy *

The Faint - I Disappear

Fallout Boy - Start Today *

Fatlip - What's Up Fatlip

Felix Da Housecat - Everyone is Someone In LA

Frank Black - Los Angeles

From Autumn To Ashes - Let's Have A War *

The God Awfuls - Watch It Fall

Good Riddance - 30 Day Wonder

Green Day - Holiday

High On Fire - Devilution

Hot Snakes - Time To Escape *

Lair Of The Minotaur - Warlord

Mastodon - Iron Tusk

Mike V And The Rats - Vendetta

Molemen - Put Your Quarter Up

Mötley Crue - Live Wire

My Chemical Romance - Astro Zombies *

Nassim - Rawhide

The Network - Teenagers From Mars

Oingo Boingo - Who Do You Want To Be

Pest - Duke Kerb Crawler

Pig Destroyer - Gravedancer

Prefuse 73 - One Word Extinguisher

Public Enemy - Burn Hollywood Burn

Rise Against - Fix Me *

Riverboat Gamblers - Hey! Hey! Hey!

Rob Sonic - Sniper Picnic

Saves The Day - Sonic Reducer *

Scissor Sisters - Filthy/Gorgeous

Senses Fail - Institutionalized *

Sham 69 - Borstal Breakout

SNFU - Better Homes And Gardens

Spirit Caravan - Dove-Tongued Aggressor

Strike Anywhere - Question The Answer

Taking Back Sunday - Suburban Home/I Like Food *

Thrice - Image Of The Invisible

Thrice - Seeing Red/Screaming At A Wall *

The Thunderlords - I Like Dirt

Thursday - Ever Fallen In Love *

Tommy Guerrero - Organism

Ungh! - Skate Afrikkana

USSR - Live Near Death

Venom - Black Metal

*= This song is in the Tony Hawk's American Wasteland soundtrack CD, which features covers of songs by other artists that are in the game.

Xbox 360 Game Installation

Tony Hawk's American Wasteland requires 5.0GB of space to install on an Xbox 360 HDD.